Lillian Gross '25 Recruiting Profile

I am a very goal oriented, competitive student. Swimming and soccer have been a part of my life since I was 5 years old. I also played softball the majority of that time so I am used to balancing a very busy student work load with the responsibilities of team sports. As I come from a smaller school, swim doesn't always get the attention other sports do so my family and I have found ways to challenge me beyond our somewhat limited program. I spent a few years pushing myself through the USA program both as an unattached swimmer and as part of a team an hour and a half away from home. I was fortunate enough to qualify for Zones my first year in the program. It was an amazing experience. After my sophomore year of high school, I came very close to breaking our school record in the 100 breast. We have no training options in the off season and so the summer before my junior year, I traveled 3 days a week to a town with a competitive training program that was an 1 1/2 away. I'm proud to say I was able to break the school record by more than a second this last season and my goal my senior year is to do the same thing. 

While swimming is my primary sport, I have loved playing soccer as well. I feel the two sports have complimented each other in amazing ways. Soccer challenges me in many way that swimming does not. However, swimming is probably the reason my throw ins go so crazy far!  Both sports have lead me to adding strength training to my life. In the summer I train 4 days a week, during the school year I typically strength train two days a week.

Coming from a small school, learning the importance of teamwork was very important. My parents have always stressed the importance of responsibility and what team commitment means. I have been fortunate enough to play varsity in both sports every year of high school but I also know if I do something to jeopardize my spot on the team, it impacts our entire team. I am very mindful of that as is our entire team which is why, in both swimming and soccer, my teams have made a state appearance every year. 

In college, I am hoping to pursue a degree in dermatology. I'm not certain if that will mean pursuing medical school down the road or if I will focus on a Nurse Practitioner or Physician's Assistant degree but it is the area I am most passionate about.